Movement and phenology of bees in a subtropical Australian agricultural landscape

Bees are mobile organisms that seek food and nesting opportunities from a range of habitats. It is important to understand the way they move in agricultural landscapes if we are to conserve them and benefit from their activity as pollinators. We surveyed bees using directional flight interception (Malaise) traps over a 1‐year period in two agricultural landscapes in south‐east Queensland, Australia. We placed traps at the ecotone between crops and remnant vegetation to establish the pattern of movement between these habitats. Species richness in these landscapes (70) was high relative to that in comparable studies. Some bees were active year round, but most were caught in the period September to March. Across the whole assemblage there was a significant pattern where more species were detected leaving rather than entering remnant vegetation. The same bias was true for the number of individuals of the two most abundant species (Homalictus urbanus and Apis mellifera). Species exclusively found in crops were smaller on average (and therefore have smaller foraging range) than their non‐crop counterparts. Together, these patterns indicate that while bees are abundant in crop habitat, the remnant vegetation is important as the point of origin for bee movements, and the riparian remnant in particular is richer than the dry native remnant. Compositional similarity among samples was significantly explained by landscape but also movement direction (i.e. to or from the riparian remnant) because different species showed different patterns of response. The landscape with greater native vegetation cover supported more species in and around crops than the landscape with less native vegetation.     

荒漠绿洲过渡带不同年限雨养梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)对土壤水分变化的响应

通过调查分析河西走廊荒漠绿洲过渡带不同种植年限（5、10、20、30和40a）人工梭梭生理生化变化（叶片渗透调节物质、丙二醛和叶绿素含量,根系活力）和个体形态特征（叶片、枝条和茎干生物量、枯枝落叶比、株高、冠幅等）以揭示不同种植年限雨养梭梭对土壤水分变化的响应机制。研究结果表明：随着梭梭种植年限增加,人工梭梭林内深层100-120cm和180-200cm土壤水分变化明显,在5-20a保持在3%-4%,而在种植后期（30-40a）土壤水分下降到1%-2%左右。在5-20a,梭梭主要通过显著提高叶片渗透调节物质可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,维持叶片较低的丙二醛含量和较高的叶绿素含量,保持新叶光合能力;同时,显著提高0-20cm根系的活力,增强对表层土壤水分的吸收能力;但在30-40a,梭梭叶片渗透调节物质明显减少,梭梭叶片丙二醛含量增加,叶绿素含量下降,同时叶绿素a,b比例失调,渗透调节作用失效,梭梭叶片老化,老叶比例明显增加,光合作用能力下降,枝条和茎干退化严重,个体生物量进一步减少,在40a梭梭叶片、枝条和茎干生物量下降到最低值。研究表明在年降水100mm左右的荒漠绿洲过渡带,在种植梭梭5-20a土壤水分为3%-4%,梭梭可以通过生理调节适应土壤干燥,但是从30a土壤水分下降到1%-2%时,梭梭主要通过枯枝落叶降低个体蒸腾耗水量,在40a梭梭进入休眠（假死）状态,这暗示土壤水分下降到1%-2%,可能是梭梭的临界吸收土壤水分。     

Analysis of macrofungal communities reveals a complex reciprocal influence between Mediterranean montane calcareous grassland and surrounding forest habitats

Fungi are essential components of all terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the crucial ecological role of soil fungi in grasslands, knowledge about fungal community diversity and structure in Mediterranean meadow habitats is still fragmentary. We analyzed macrofungal communities in three geographically distinct Mediterranean montane calcareous grasslands and surrounding forests, by means of fruit body surveys. We investigated a number of biotic and abiotic factors influencing the studied fungal communities, including plant species composition. Out of 6365 fruit bodies, a total of 268 species belonging to 84 genera were found. In general, there was a significant correlation between plant species richness and fungal richness. Variation in vegetation and plant community structure accounted for approximately 20% of variance in fungal community structure. Tree and shrub vegetation played a dominant role in shaping the analyzed fungal communities, both in meadows and surrounding forests, with particular influence on ectomycorrhizal, litter, and lignicolous saprotrophic fungi. Fungal biodiversity in the studied meadows was increased by the presence of tree and shrub species from the adjacent forests, but was reduced by the increasing vegetation cover.     

Distinguishing local from global climate influences in the variation of carbon status with altitude in a tree line species

Aim Two alternative hypotheses attempt to explain the upper elevation limit of tree lines world‐wide, the carbon‐limitation hypothesis (CLH) and the growth‐limitation hypothesis (GLH); the altitudinal decrease of temperature is considered the driver constraining either carbon gain or growth. Using a widely distributed tree line species (Nothofagus pumilio) we tested whether tree line altitude is explained by the CLH or the GLH, distinguishing local from global effects. We elaborated expectations based on most probable trends of carbon charging with altitude according to both hypotheses, considering the alternative effects of drought. Location Two climatically contrasting tree line ecotones in the southern Andes of Chile: Mediterranean (36°54′ S) and Patagonia (46°04′ S). Methods At both locations, 35–50 trees of different ages were selected at each of four altitudes (including tree line), and stem and root sapwood tissues were collected to determine non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations. NSC accumulates whenever growth is more limited than photosynthesis. An altitudinal increase in NSCs means support for the GLH, while the opposite trend supports the CLH. We also determined stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) to examine drought constraints on carbon gain. Results NSC concentrations were positively correlated with altitude for stem tissue at the Mediterranean and root sapwood tissue at the Patagonia site. No depletion of NSC was found at either site in either tissue type. For both tissues, mean NSC concentrations were higher for the Patagonia site than for the Mediterranean site. Mean root sapwood NSC concentration values were five times higher than those of the corresponding stem sapwood at all altitudes. Values for δ¹³C were positively correlated with altitude in the Mediterranean site only. Main conclusions We found support for the GLH at the site without drought effects (Patagonia) and no support for the CLH at either site. It is suggested that drought moderated the effects of low temperature by masking the expected trend of the GLH at the Mediterranean site.     

RECENT ECOLOGICAL SELECTION ON REGULATORY DIVERGENCE IS SHAPING CLINAL VARIATION IN SENECIO ON MOUNT ETNA

The hybrid zone on Mount Etna (Sicily) between Senecio aethnensis and Senecio chrysanthemifolius (two morphologically and physiologically distinct species) is a classic example of an altitudinal cline. Hybridization at intermediate altitudes and gradients in phenotypic and life‐history traits occur along altitudinal transects of the volcano. The cline is considered to be a good example of ecological selection with species differences arising by divergent selection opposing gene flow. However, the possibility that the cline formed from recent secondary contact following an allopatric phase is difficult to exclude. We demonstrate a recent split between S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius (as recent as ～32,000 years ago) and sufficient gene flow (2Nm > 1) to have prevented divergence (implicating a role for diversifying selection in the maintenance of the cline). Differentially expressed genes between S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius exhibit significantly higher genetic divergence relative to “expression invariant” controls, suggesting that species differences may in part be mediated by divergent selection on differentially expressed genes involved with altitude‐related adaptation. The recent split time and the absence of fixed differences between these two ecologically distinct species suggest the rapid evolution to an altitudinal cline involving selection on both sequence and expression variation.     

Spatial patterns and associations of dominant woody species in desert–oasis ecotone of South Junggar Basin,NW China

Spatial patterns and associations of plant species are important for revealing how species interact with each other and with the environment, and hence have important implications for the understanding of species interaction and underlying ecological processes with apparent patterns in temperate desert vegetation. In this paper, the function g (r) was used to characterize the spatial patterns and associations of four dominant woody species in three 1-ha desert plant plots in the desert–oasis ecotone of South Junggar Basin, NW China. The complete spatial randomness null model showed four species exhibited significant aggregations at small scales (<20 m). Anabasis aphylla and Nitraria roborowskii, Haloxylon ammodendron and Reaumuria songarica were spatially positive associations at small scales with the independent null model, while A. aphylla and H. ammodendron, A. aphylla and R. songarica, R. songarica and N. roborowskii species pairs exhibited negative associations at small or moderate scales (20–60 m) in our study. The random labeling null model showed that dead standing plants of A. aphylla were largely determined by the combined effects of intra- and interspecific competition. In addition, the results also indicated that the two main factors of habitat heterogeneity and sandy desertification play important roles in determining spatial distribution patterns and associations of woody species in the desert–oasis ecotone of South Junggar Basin. Thus, the differences of species features in spatial patterns and associations should be paid more attention when planning afforestation and developing conservation strategies.     

不同灌溉量对绿洲-荒漠过渡带多枝柽柳幼苗根系生长和分布的影响

为了探讨绿洲-荒漠过渡带上受损柽柳群落幼苗适宜生长的土壤水分条件,在塔南策勒绿洲外围设置A（不灌溉）、B（适度灌溉）、C（充分灌溉）3个处理的田间试验,于7～10月份考察了各处理柽柳幼苗粗根（>2 mm）和细根（<2 mm）生物量积累、空间分布等变化特征。结果显示:（1）随着灌溉量的增加,柽柳根系生物量积累不断增加,且在生长季末（10月份）增速最大,同时细根占总根重的比例从20.5%上升到29.8%,显著提高了幼苗吸收养分和水分的能力。（2）干旱胁迫（处理A）下柽柳幼苗根系的下扎深度大,但水平根幅的扩展却有限;适度灌溉（处理B）的生物量较处理A大,但小于处理C;根系扎根深度表现为处理A>处理B>处理C,各指标均处于中间状态;水分条件最好（处理C）时虽然垂直扎根深度小,但水平根幅最大,可以更有效利用浅层土壤资源。（3）柽柳幼苗大量根系集中在0～40 cm的土壤表层,而且水分条件越好,这种集中趋势越明显;根系生物量随土壤深度的增加呈递减变化,细根的根长密度也有相似变化,但细根的比根长变化规律不明显,这可能与各层土壤微观环境的变化有关。研究表明,灌溉对柽柳幼苗根系的生长和分布有显著影响,充分灌溉下柽柳幼苗根系生物量积累最多且空间分布最大,该灌溉量有利于柽柳幼苗根系的正常生长和合理分布。     

Thirty-four years of climatic selection in the land snail Theba pisana

Few continuous, long-term studies have measured the intensity and variability of natural selection within a framework of clear adaptive hypotheses. In the snail Theba pisana, the proportion of effectively unbanded shells is higher in exposed habitats than in adjacent acacia thickets, which has been explained by microclimatic selection. Comparisons across an ecotone for 34 consecutive years determined the combined effects on morph frequencies of habitat and changes in weather conditions during summer. The long-term average (±s.e.) frequency of effectively unbanded shells was 0.577±0.011 in the open habitat when compared with 0.353±0.005 in the acacia. The persistent association of shell banding with habitat accounted for 34% of the variation in morph frequencies. Differences among years were also large, representing 23% of the variation. Higher proportions of effectively unbanded snails were associated with hotter, sunnier summers. Thus, temporal variation supports the hypothesis of microclimatic selection, consistent with the spatial association with habitat. Based on observed rates of change, the mean annual selection on this polymorphism was about 0.13, but with a large variance: s was as high as 0.5, but ⩽0.05 in about 40% of the years. The large variance and frequent reversals in direction of selection indicate a potential for rapid genetic change, but with little net change in morph frequencies over three decades, highlighting the value of long-term continuous studies of populations facing natural environmental variation.     

Zooplankton succession on seasonal floodplains: surfing on a wave of food

Floodplains represent ecotones with frequent high productivity mediated by regular shifts between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We examined interaction along this intercept on a seasonal floodplain of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. We focused on the zooplankton communities in order to gain knowledge on the energetic and stoichiometric interplay of the two systems involved. A conspicuous horizontal migration and pulsed biomass increase was found for the dominant zooplankton species (Moina micrura, Daphnia laevis, Mesocyclops leuckarti), culminating in truly extreme numbers before a final collapse. There was a distinct succession in the peak abundance of these species, apparently subsidized by hatchlings from the seed bank of resting eggs as the flood proceeded over the savannah. The high productivity of the system seems to be driven by a strong coupling of the terrestrial and aquatic phase of the floodplains via a mobilization of terrestrially derived nutrients, through nutrients from grazing ungulates during dry periods. Carbon of terrestrial origin, however, appeared to be of minor importance for the planktonic part of the food web. Handling editor: S. Dodson     

柽柳（Tamarix spp．ammodendron））和梭梭（Haloxylon的“肥岛”效应

灌丛“肥岛”是全球干旱生态系统中的普遍现象,其发生和发展对干旱灌木、草原生态系统的结构和功能都具有重要影响,但其物种效应容易得到忽视。对准噶尔盆地南缘柽柳（Tamarix spp．）和梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron）这两种不同地表形态灌木的冠下、冠缘和灌丛间地3种生境的土壤进行了采样、分析,结果表明：（1）柽柳和梭梭都存在“肥岛”现象,主要表现在土壤表层,其土壤性状与“岛”外土壤的差异随土壤深度增加而减弱;（2）生物性限制土壤养分由“岛”内向外梯度递减,而非生物性限制土壤要素可能高于、也可能低于“岛”外土壤,或者两者无显著差异;（3）从“肥岛”的空间尺度来看,柽柳“肥岛”的水平范围可能超出了本身冠幅覆盖区,而梭梭“肥岛”要小于本身冠幅覆盖区,其深度亦小于柽柳“肥岛”;（4）相对于不同土壤要素而言,即使是同一物种,其“肥岛”也具有不同的空间范围。总的来看,研究区灌丛“肥岛”的发育具有明显的物种效应,相对梭梭而言,柽柳“肥岛”发育更广、更深,养分聚集更明显,其原因主要是柽柳的半球型树冠更利于保护和捕获凋落物,而较多的凋落物输入与土壤结构和土壤养分间的正反馈机制使柽柳冠下加速的生物地球化学循环能达到更广、更深的范围。灌丛“肥岛”的发育是干旱景观中生物过程与物理过程交互作用的产物,全面揭示其形成机理,探讨其对干旱生态系统结构、功能与动态的影响,需要更系统的研究。